By Mike Casey, MH, Dip.H.Ir, MHH Practitioner, and Holistic Health Coach
Fatigue is an epidemic and has become so common that it is normalized. People have come to think it’s normal to drag themselves through the day, lacking energy. Wanting to lay down and rest after a long day of hard physical and mental work is completely valid, but being fatigued or feeling drained constantly is most definitely not normal. It’s your body crying for help!
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?
Unfortunately, these symptoms have been all too familiar for me at one point, too. I’ve been there, and it is one of the worst feelings to struggle through your everyday life with fatigue weighing you down.
My story with chronic fatigue began in my early twenties. At the time, I was one of the top performers at the sales company I was working with due to my mental sharpness, high motivation, and ambitious spirit. I was also a former athlete and continually stayed very active. Everything seemed to be going great, but little by little, symptoms crept in that I brushed off as normal. I started needing more and more sleep in order to feel refreshed. I became forgetful and had a hard time recalling information and remembering details. Inevitably, I started needing to utilize caffeine, stimulants, and B vitamins to get through the day. Day after day, week after week, I was left feeling constantly exhausted. I would have difficulty waking up in the mornings. I was in a constant state of relying on stimulants to
push me through my day. Brain fog and memory issues plagued my thinking. Energy crashes midday would have me needing to take naps. It even affected my workouts as I noticed muscle recovery was much slower than usual. Maybe you can relate? All of these symptoms seemed just like a normal part of life to me until I had a realization. Fatigue is NOT normal. Our bodies are meant to flourish with energy and life! We are meant to live at our fullest capacity, but instead, so many can barely get through a day.
Searching for answers through the conventional route left me hopeless. Unfortunately, conventional medicine does not have much to offer people with chronic fatigue. They end up only focusing on the symptoms instead of addressing the core issues and using medication to manage those symptoms. Treatment options typically offered for fatigue include exercise therapy, antidepressants, cognitive behavior therapy, and stimulant pills.
As I searched deeper, I realized even holistic medicine does not have much to offer those who are battling chronic fatigue. They tend to focus on adrenal fatigue theory which centers around the role of the adrenal glands and cortisol being the central players in fatigue. Adrenal fatigue theory basically says that in response to stress, the adrenal system gets taxed and at some point, the adrenals just can’t produce enough cortisol to keep up with demands, eventually resulting in “adrenal burnout.” This seemingly makes sense, but once you dive into the research, it is clear that the science absolutely does not support the idea that the primary cause of these fatigue symptoms is “adrenal fatigue” and low cortisol levels. The simple conclusion is that the majority of people with chronic fatigue or burnout have… PERFECTLY NORMAL adrenal function and cortisol levels. So, what is really going on in the body? What are the deeper issues?
I eventually discovered what was at the root of my chronic fatigue and, from there, was able to address and reverse my symptoms as well as the issues driving those symptoms. Through my experience with my own story, consulting with many clients, and leading webinars on chronic fatigue, I have come to find the true root causes behind this epidemic. As you know by now, fatigue is merely a symptom. If we look at the layer underneath this symptom, we find something called mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria are found in every cell of our body (except red blood cells) and are responsible for making 70-90% of our energy. They are known as the “powerhouse” or energy generators of the cell. Because we are made up of cells at the most foundational level, mitochondria power everything from your brain to your heart, liver, muscles, and much more. In return, mitochondrial dysfunction is pretty much the key cellular driver of fatigue.
Now, let’s take it one step further and unlock what underlying root causes actually drive mitochondrial dysfunction. These can be summed up into three main categories: deficiencies, toxicities, and infectious organisms. Deficiencies include things like lifestyle habits (water, food, movement, emotional health, mental health, sleep, etc.), vitamins/minerals, hormones (adrenals, thyroid, sex hormones), and neurotransmitters. Toxicities refer to topics such as radioactive elements, heavy metals, environmental toxins/chemicals, mold mycotoxins, negative emotional patterns, trauma, and EMFs. Lastly, infectious organisms include parasites, Lyme and coinfections, microbial (bacteria, yeast, fungal), and viruses. Once I am able to identify someone’s specific root causes, I then work with them through an individualized
approach to replace deficiencies, optimize cellular function and drainage, remove toxicities, and achieve balance, vitality, and freedom. It is a delight and honor to see a person go from suffering, exhausted, and hopeless to full of life, joy, and vibrance in mind, body, and spirit! I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing this happen several times over, but one particular story comes to mind that I will share with you.
Meet Sara! She is a mom in her late thirties who came to me with concerns of major fatigue, brain fog, inability to handle stress, itchy skin, gut bloating/gas, PMS/breast tenderness around cycles, and a white-coated tongue. She initially rated her fatigue as an 8/10 and her brain fog as an 8/10. In one of our first consultations, Sara stated, “I feel terrible most of the time. Little energy, little motivation, and everything feels overwhelming when I usually cope with stress just fine.” Lab testing revealed that Sara had high amounts of mold mycotoxins in her body (one being 26 times more than the appropriate level). Mycotoxins, along with a plethora of other issues, were keeping Sara from living at her fullest potential.
As I worked with Sara through her individualized protocol, we were able to see her symptoms reversed and her toxicities diminished. Sara and her husband were also able to remediate their home from mold that had grown, preventing further issues from occurring. One of the best parts of her healing journey was that her family also got to reap the benefits! Her husband shared with me the immense gratitude he felt because he “Got his wife back!” What a beautiful thing to be a part of. By the end of working together, Sara summed up her experience with the phrase, “I got my life back!” My desire is that this story instills hope in your heart and mind that healing is possible and is FOR YOU! Your body is designed to thrive! There is a reason for every symptom you may be experiencing, and there is a path to health and wholeness that will bring you to freedom.
If YOU are ready to get YOUR life back, I’ve got a special invitation for you to book a call with me. Click HERE to schedule and use this discount code (SPAUG15) for a special discount (expires August 20th – must book an appointment before August 20th).
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